Manchester United could lose out to Manchester City with wonderful signing

Manchester United head coach Louis van Gaal has regularly bemoaned the lack of ‘speedy wingers‘ in his squad this season and it’s difficult to argue the point if you have witnessed a lot of their attacking play in this campaign.

And we all know that January is a notoriously difficult time to sign real top quality, as clubs are desperate to hold on to their best players in their run-ins to the season.

All this makes it even more strange that it is now Manchester City, and not Manchester United, who are being so strongly linked with a potentially available and world class talent.

City have been monitoring Sané since December 2013 and have now stepped up their interest. Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, would hope to seal the transfer in January but the summer is considered a more realistic prospect.

Make no mistake. Sane is going to be one of the leading lights for Germany over the next decade.

He has everything required to be a top footballer. He’s got great pace and athleticism. He scores goals and has the ability to open up the tightest of games with a piece of sublime skill. And the most rare part of his skill set is that he marries the physical ability with an acute football brain.

His club apparently wants £32m and he may not have the experience that Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is looking for – but the player has been linked to Old Trafford.

But, in terms of building a team for now and the future, and creating a legacy at Manchester United, there can be few better potential acquisitions out there right now than Leroy Sane.

The idea of he and Anthony Martial on the flanks at Manchester United makes the mouth water and its a prospect which could return the club to the spectacular football of old.